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The Chicago Cubs‘ beginning of 2024 has been more successful than not, but it hasn’t come easy. The injury bug has struck Jameson Taillon, Patrick Wisdom, Justin Steele, and Seiya Suzuki. Separate from the starts from Shōta Imanaga, Javier Assad, and Jordan Wicks’ showing on Tuesday, the starting rotation is having a hard time going more than four innings. Kyle Hendricks has regressed dramatically and now finds himself on the injured list to figure it out.
But the Cubs’ most apparent problem thus far in 2024 has been in the bullpen. The relievers have been overused with underwhelming results through the first month of play. Jose Cuas, who the Cubs traded for in 2023, has already blown his chance and has been demoted to AAA Iowa. Hector Neris, the Cubs’ big free-agency acquisition in the bullpen, has surrendered six hits and three runs in just seven innings pitched. And Adbert Alzolay has already blown four of his seven save opportunities.
Mark Leiter Jr. has been the only consistent bright point thus far, not allowing an earned run in over 11 innings pitched. Ben Brown, Hayden Wesneski, and Keegan Thompson have all been promoted from AAA Iowa and have also seen success. But this unit still has no answer for who deserves the ball when the game is on the line.
What the Cubs do have doing for them is a stock-piled farm system that is ranked in the top three in baseball. That could come in handy as the trade deadline approaches. However, there’s no need to wait if the Cubs are serious about their 2024 plans. There is a pitcher out there who can help them right now.
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The Cubs Need Mason Miller Right Now
Mason Miller is a rookie reliever for the Oakland Athletics. He was drafted by the A’s in the third round of the 2021 draft. Miller made his MLB debut at the end of 2023. He started in six games and made relief appearances in four. He struck out 38 batters in 31.1 innings pitched.
In 2024, Miller has found success coming out of the bullpen in relief. As you can see above, he has gas and is not afraid to use it. Miller has been given the ball to finish the game in all but one appearance – he pitched the ninth and tenth innings in an extra-innings game against the Boston Red Sox. Miller’s last five outings have been save opportunities, and he’s gotten the save for all of them. Through ten total innings pitched, Miller has a 1.08 ERA and twenty strikeouts.
Candidly, the A’s barely have a major-league roster to start with. Their farm system is a reflection of the state of the franchise. Their highest-ranked prospect is a shortstop by the name of Jacob Wilson. He is ranked 61st and MLB’s Top-100 and is currently rostered on the A’s AA affiliate, Midland RockHocks.
The Cubs certainly have the ammunition to bring Miller to Chicago, but the question becomes what the cost would be. We don’t even know where the A’s will play baseball in five years. So it’s hard to know what they’re currently looking to do with the team on the field. Miller is under team control until 2030, so there is plenty of value in him. It would be up to Jed Hoyer to find the correct price tag to bring Miller to a bullpen that could desperately use him.
Yes please!!!